“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
– Ferris Bueller
The American Film Institute’s latest list, despite using the word “Cheers,” is, in fact, a collection of the most inspirational movies from the first century of cinema. Many of the selections aren’t about eliciting cheers as much as poignant, emotional responses, ranging from excitement to rage to sympathy to sadness to admiration. They’re meant to encourage, to send viewers from theaters with a sense of hope for the future and, whether concluding happily or tragically, an undeniable triumph of will or spirit. And once again, a jury of more than 1500 film artists, critics, and historians chose the winning 100 (from 300 nominees), which were presented on June 14th, 2006 during a CBS television special, with commentary by celebrated filmmakers including Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Kingsley, Sidney Poitier, and Steven Spielberg. Only films released before January 1st, 2005 were considered eligible for voting. Read the full reviews by clicking on the titles!
AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Cheers (2006)
1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
4. Rocky (1976)
5. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
6. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
9. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
10. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
11. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
12. Apollo 13 (1995)
13. Hoosiers (1986)
14. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
16. Norma Rae (1979)
17. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
18. The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
21. In the Heat of the Night (1967)
22. The Pride of the Yankees (1943)
23. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
27. High Noon (1952)
29. Gandhi (1982)
31. Glory (1989)
34. All the President’s Men (1976)
35. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
38. Pinocchio (1940)
39. Star Wars (1977)
44. Spartacus (1960)
46. Lilies of the Field (1963)
47. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
53. Shane (1953)
54. Rudy (1993)
56. Ben-Hur (1959)
58. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
61. Sounder (1972)
63. Rain Man (1988)
65. A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
66. Silkwood (1983)
67. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
68. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
69. The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
70. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
74. Gunga Din (1939)
76. Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
79. The Ten Commandments (1956)
80. Babe (1995)
81. Boys Town (1938)
82. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
83. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
84. Serpico (1973)
85. What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
88. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
92. Fame (1980)
94. Captains Courageous (1937)
95. Places in the Heart (1984)
96. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
99. Ray (2004)